What you can and cannot do online in Broward
Florida allows you to reinstate your driver's license online through the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) website, but only if your suspension or revocation meets specific conditions. You can renew online if your license expired while it was suspended, or if you're reinstating after certain types of suspensions like those for unpaid traffic fines or failure to appear in court. However, you cannot complete the full reinstatement online if your suspension involves a DUI conviction, a medical suspension, or a suspension tied to a criminal charge — those require an in-person visit to a Broward County DMV office.
The online process through the Florida DMV portal (license.gov) takes about 15 minutes if you have all required documents ready. You'll need your Social Security number, date of birth, driver's license number, and a valid payment method for any reinstatement fees. The system will tell you when ready whether your specific suspension type qualifies for online reinstatement.
Key Takeaways
- You can reinstate online through license.gov only if your suspension is for unpaid fines, failure to appear, or certain administrative reasons — not for DUI, medical issues, or criminal convictions.
- Reinstatement fees in Florida range from $45 to $150 depending on the reason for suspension, and you pay by credit or debit card during the online process.
- After you complete online reinstatement, your license status updates in the system within 24 hours, but you cannot legally drive until the DMV confirms the reinstatement is complete.
- If the online system rejects your reinstatement request, you must visit a Broward County DMV office in person with proof of payment or compliance with court orders.
- Broward County has five DMV offices, and walk-in appointments are available but waits can exceed two hours during peak times.
Checking whether your suspension qualifies for online reinstatement
Before you start the online process, you need to know the reason your license was suspended. Log into your Florida DMV account at license.gov using your driver's license number and date of birth, or create an account if you don't have one. The system will display your current license status and the specific reason for any suspension or revocation.
Suspensions that may have access to for online reinstatement include: failure to pay traffic fines or court costs, failure to appear for a traffic ticket, failure to maintain auto insurance (if you've now obtained it), and administrative suspensions for unpaid child support or unpaid court-ordered restitution. Suspensions that do not may have access to online include: DUI or drug-related convictions, medical suspensions, suspensions for reckless driving convictions, suspensions tied to criminal charges, and suspensions for accumulating too many points. If you're unsure, call the Broward County DMV at 954-715-7000 before attempting the online process — a wrong submission can delay your reinstatement.
Steps to reinstate online through license.gov
Start at license.gov and log in with your driver's license number and date of birth. Navigate to the "Reinstate License" section under your account dashboard. The system will confirm your suspension reason and show you the reinstatement fee, which ranges from $45 for administrative suspensions to $150 for certain violations. Read the fee amount carefully — it will not change once you proceed.
Answer the questions about your current address, whether you've obtained required insurance (if that was the reason for suspension), and any other compliance details the system requests. Upload or have ready any documents the system asks for — this might include proof of insurance, proof of payment to the court, or a letter from your employer if your suspension was work-related. Review all information for accuracy before submitting, because you cannot edit after you hit the final "Submit" button.
Pay the reinstatement fee using a credit card, debit card, or prepaid card. The system will generate a confirmation number when ready. Write down this number and take a screenshot of the confirmation page. You will receive an email confirmation within a few minutes, but the email sometimes goes to spam — check your spam folder if you don't see it in your inbox within 10 minutes.
What happens after you submit your online reinstatement
The DMV processes online reinstatements within 24 hours on business days. Your license status in the system will change from "suspended" to "valid" once processing is complete. However, you should not drive until you receive a second confirmation email stating that your reinstatement is approved — the first confirmation only means your payment went through.
If your reinstatement is approved, you can drive when ready. Your physical license card still shows the old suspension date, but law enforcement can see your current status in the system when they run your license. You do not need to visit a DMV office to pick up a new card unless you want one — your current card remains valid to drive.
If the DMV rejects your reinstatement, you will receive an email explaining why within 24 hours. Common rejection reasons include: the system detected you still owe court fines, you did not provide proof of required insurance, or your suspension type does not actually may have access to for online reinstatement. If rejected, you must visit a Broward County DMV office in person with the required documents to complete reinstatement.
Broward County DMV office locations and what to bring
Broward County has five DMV offices. The main office is at 1350 W. Copans Road in Pompano Beach. Other locations are in Fort Lauderdale (299 N. Federal Highway), Deerfield Beach (1801 E. Hillsboro Boulevard), Coral Springs (2600 N. University Drive), and Plantation (7600 W. McNab Road). Each office handles reinstatements, but wait times vary. The Plantation and Coral Springs offices typically have shorter waits than the main Pompano Beach location.
If you must visit in person, bring your driver's license, proof of payment for any court fines (a receipt or court letter), proof of insurance if that was the suspension reason, and a valid photo ID if your driver's license is expired. If your suspension was for failure to appear in court, bring a letter from the court showing you have resolved the case or a letter from your attorney. Bring originals and one copy of each document — the DMV will not accept photos or digital copies for reinstatement.
Reinstatement fees and what they cover
Florida reinstatement fees depend on the suspension reason. Administrative suspensions (unpaid fines, failure to appear) cost $45. Suspensions for failure to maintain insurance cost $45. Suspensions for unpaid child support or court-ordered restitution cost $45. Suspensions for certain traffic violations cost $150. The fee covers the administrative cost of processing your reinstatement and updating your license status in the state system — it does not cover any court fines, restitution, or child support you may still owe.
If you owe court fines or restitution, you must pay those separately before the DMV will approve your reinstatement. The online system will tell you if you have outstanding court obligations. If you do, contact the court that issued the suspension (usually the Broward County Traffic Court or Criminal Court) to find out the exact amount and payment method. Some courts accept online payment through their websites; others require payment by mail or in person.
If your online reinstatement is rejected or you cannot use the online system
If the online system rejects your request or tells you that your suspension type requires in-person processing, you have two options: visit a Broward County DMV office, or contact the DMV by phone at 954-715-7000 to ask whether your case can be reviewed for online reinstatement. The phone line is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern Time. Be prepared to explain your suspension reason and have your driver's license number ready.
If you visit in person, arrive early — the DMV offices open at 8 a.m. and are busiest between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. You can make an appointment online through the Florida DMV website to reduce wait time, though appointments often book up several weeks in advance. Walk-ins are accepted, but you may wait 1 to 3 hours depending on the office and time of day. Bring all required documents in a folder so you can hand them to the clerk without searching through your bag.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I drive while my online reinstatement is being processed?
No. You cannot legally drive until the DMV sends you a second confirmation email stating your reinstatement is approved. Driving on a suspended license, even if you have submitted the reinstatement request, is a criminal offense in Florida and can result in arrest, fines up to $500, and jail time. Wait for the approval email before you drive.
What if I owe court fines but the online system won't let me pay them?
The online DMV system does not collect court fines — only reinstatement fees. Contact the court that issued your suspension directly. For Broward County Traffic Court, call 954-831-8700. For Criminal Court, call 954-831-8700. Ask for the exact amount owed and whether you can pay online, by phone, or by mail. Once the court confirms payment, resubmit your reinstatement request online.
Do I need a new physical license card after online reinstatement?
No. Your current license card remains valid to drive even though it shows an old date. The DMV system updates your status, and police can see you are reinstated when they scan your license. You can order a replacement card online if you want one with a current date, but it is not required to drive legally.
What if I submitted my reinstatement online but never received a confirmation email?
Check your spam and promotions folders first — DMV emails often get filtered. If you have your confirmation number from the online submission, log back into license.gov and check your account status. If the status shows "valid," your reinstatement was approved and you can drive. If it still shows "suspended," call 954-715-7000 to confirm whether your payment was processed.
Can I reinstate my license if I still owe child support?
Only if you have a payment plan in place with the Florida Department of Revenue. If your suspension is for unpaid child support, the online system will reject your request until you contact the Department of Revenue at 1-800-622-5437 and set up a payment arrangement. Once you have a plan, resubmit your reinstatement request online.